Display apparatus



June 7, 1938. J. TADDoNlo DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Etf June 7, 1938. J. TADDoNlo DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed June 17, `1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www l@ JM@ M@ Patented June 7, 1938 2,1

UNITED vSTATES PATENT .OFFICE DISPLAY APPARATUS Joseph Taddonio, East Boston, Mass. Application June 17, 1937, Serial No. 148,716 6 Claims. (Cl. 40-32) This invention pertains to improvements in disexhibited is greatly facilitated and may be so acplay apparatus and relates more particularly to complished as to permit ready correction of error. devices of the type in which a flexible band or In apparatus of the above type, wherein the web, bearing display characters, iguresror symbols display band or web isV far longer than the field of light-obscuring type, is caused to move beof View, that portion of the band or web which 5 tween a light source and the observer, so that the has been exhibited isY continuously packed or display characters or the like appear to move piled as a folded mass into a storage chamber' across the field of vision. The present inven- While other portions of the band are at the same tion pertains more especially to improvements in time being withdrawn from the chamber for rethe exible band and in means for storing that exhibition. However, as above noted, this opera- 10 portion of the band or web which for theptime tionV subjects the band or web to sharp flexings being is not exposed Yto the View of the observer. and to substantial tensile stress, and tends to Quite commonly the flexible band is of v necause rapid Wear and breaking along the lines of woven, substantially opaque cloth and the display perforations which form the letters or symbols.

l5 characters or the like, (for instance a series of Since theband, in accordance with the present 15 consecutive letters spelling a word orwords) are invention, may be somewhatv heavier than the formed by perforating the outline of each letter usual band, it is subjected to even greater stress in the material of the band. The band is usually in dragging it through the storage chamber. quite thin in order to secure the desired flexibility, A further object of the present invention isto but as the band is subjected to very sharpiiexure provide means for moving the massed, folded 20 and substantial pulling stress when packing it band through vthe storage chamber so as to reduce into and withdrawing it from the storage chamthe pull imposed on the band necessary to draw ber, the bands are not very durablef-showing a it along, and thus to reduce the tensile stress to. marked tendency to crack or tear along the lines which the band is subjected, and at the same time 55 of the closely spaced perforations which form the to reduce the power consumed by greatly reduc- 25 outlines of the display characters, Consequently ing the friction of the massed band upon ad# these bands must frequently be replaced or at jacent parts. least repaired. Other and further objects and advantages of It is to be noted that when it is desired to the invention will be made manifest in the fol- 0 change the display characters, for example to lowing more detailed description and by refer'- 3o substitute a new advertising slogan or the like, ence to the accompanying drawings, in which the entire band must be removed and anew one Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan View illustrative prepared and put in place. Moreover, the makof display apparatus of a generally conventional ing of such a band requires a considerable detype but embodying the present invention;

5 gree of skill and care, for since each character Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the front 35 is outlined by perforations through the substance of a display apparatus showing a portion of the of the band, it is manifest that error on the part sight opening through which is seen the improved of the operator,-for example, errors in spelling, display band of the present invention," A word arrangement, punctuation or the like, re- Fig. 3 is an elevation of a flexible display ele- T suits in a defect not easily remedied. As the bandY ment useful in the practice of the present invenis usually one integral length of material and of tion, said element being of opaque material but very substantial extent, it is almost certain that having a light-transmitting area shaped to form improperly formed or located characters will oca letter of the alphabet; cur somewhere in the length of the band. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

A principal object of the invention is to pro- Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig 3, but showingY a 45 vide a flexible display'band or web which is' strong display element of light-transmitting material and durable,-capable of withstanding sharp iiexhaving a relative opaque area in the shape of a ing and the stresses imposed in forcing it into letter of the alphabet; and withdrawing it from the storage chamber,-' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in perand in particular to provide a band or web of such spective, illustrating a preferred form vof display a construction that the characters, symbols or band in accordance with the present invention; other display elements may readily be changed Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6`; without necessitating replacement of the entire Fig. 7a is a view similar t0 Fig. 6, butto smaller band or web, and such that the setting up of the scale, illustrating a band of a different kind of desired words or other characters or devices to be material;` A

' shown in Fig. 8; and

,example panes of frosted or faceted Y or the like.

Vparallel -toone of the partitions rpartition'ISb spaced a'short distance from' the Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end elevation of the parts shown in Fig.v r8.

Referring to theV drawings, the numeral I designates the casing `of a display apparatus, suchcasing being, for example, of sheet metal comprising the end walls 2 and 3 and the elongate side walls 4 and 5. As here illustrated-each of the walls 4 and 5 is provided with a horizontally elongate' display opening' 6 Vand 1, respectively, although itV is to be understood that but-one of such display or sight openings may be employed.

As here shown, and for convenience in description, it is assumed that the Vapparatus. will be used in the horizontal position shown, but it isto be understood'that the casing may be dis-Vv posed so that Vthe display openings are vertically elongate, or in any otherdesired position. 1

Y `Adjacent to each'Y corner Yof the casing, or at least at opposite ends ofV the-respectivesight openings, there are placed vertical guide Yrollers 1, 8, 9, and ID, respectively. Within the casing andspaced inwardly from the sight openings are vertical light-diffusing elements II and I2, for glass, it being understood .that-the sight openings themselves may be glazed, if desired, with' plain or other glass, as preferred. Spaced inwardly from each of the diffusing elements II and I2 there is'disposed a source of illumination, such source consisting,'for example, of a series of incandescent Vlamp bulbs I3, or `a single elongate tubular lamp, The light source behindeach of the diffusing elements II and I2 isrpreferably housed within a reflector I4. YAs here illustrated the inner wall of veach reflector takes the form of a substantially vertical partition I5,Lthespace' 'I6 between these partitions constituting a storage chamber. YWithinv Athis storage I5 is a-second Y fadj acent. partition I5.

Adjacent to the entrance end of the storage chamber I6 there isarranged a pair of vertical drive rollers I1 and I8, respectively, one of these rollers being provided with a pulley andy being driven at apredetermined speed by means of a suitable motor device. for example an electric motorVv I9, arranged within the casing. YAttheV outlet end of the chamber there ispreferably ar- Y ranged'a smoothing element, for example a brush 20, carried by a spring-pressed arm 2l, and ad-Y jacent tothe same end ofthe storage chamber. YAdjacent to the ends of the` partitions I5 and I5b there is arranged a vertical guide roller 22, while at the opposite end of the same partition I5 there. is preferably arranged a curved guide 23. v

YThe flexible display belt 24, Yforming an essential featurefof the .present invention, passes Y around the guide rolls 1and 8 to form a lsubstantially straight run 24awhichis exposed to the view of the obsrverthrough the sight opening 6. After` leavingfthe guideY roll 8 thelband 'passes between the driving rolls VI1 veyor belt passes.

chamber, and L material united and, Iiiwhichv pull iti around the roll IlV and force it Vinto the storage chamber I6 where it gathers in substantially vertical zigzag folds, to form a' more or less compact mass M. At the opposite end of the stor- Vage chamber 1s arranged a deflector 25, designed v to keep the massed material from piling up against the pivoted end of the arm 2 I ,-the band material being drawn out from the mass and passing out between the brush 2D and the partition I5b, the action of the brush being to smooth out the foldsof the band-' VThe band then passes around the guide roll 22 and then along the narrow corridor between the partitionsy I5 and I5b and over the guide 23 and then about the roller Ill, and thence to the roll 9, forming a substantially straight run 24b which is exposed through the sight openings 1. From the roller 9 the band extends to theroller 4, it being understood that the band is endless and that the runs 242L and 24lo are ordinarily in constant motion across the sight openings, preferably traveling from right to left.

In accordance with the present invention, a portion of the floor of the chamber I6 is formed by the upper substantially horizontal run of an K endless belt conveyor 26. The floor proper F of the storage'chamber is furnished with an elongate opening which receives this belt conveyor 26, The lateral edges of Vthis opening are downwardlyfdirected flanges 28 and 29, respectively, and at one end of the opening these flanges are provided with which supports a rollerv 3l about which the con-V a pair of sliding rods 33 34 which tend to moverthe carriage to the right, as viewed in Fig. 9, the carriage thus constituting tensioning means for the belt conveyor. its opposite end the conveyor belt passesV around a drive roll 32 which is journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings, the roll 32 being prodened by Y guides for a sliding carriage 30 This carriage is provided withY embraced Vby springsV vided at one Yend rwith a worm wheel`35 which Y drive pulley 38 at vits upthe major portion ofthe Vmassed band material and assists'in'moving Vsuch material toward the outlet end of the storage chamber. Y v

Referring to Figs. 2 toje inclusive, the im, proved display band 24in accordance with the present invention, Vcomprises flexible material such, for example, as cloth, strong paper, celluloid, thin flexible sheetmaterial or the like. In the preferred embodiment kof the invention, this band consists. of two thicknesses III and 40, respectivelyV (Fig.

in parallel slightly spaced relation. The two thicknesses 40 and 4I)a may initially be entirely separate, or they may consist of a single piece of materialrdoubled longitudinallyV so that the two thicknesses are integrally united at the lower edge of the band. As illustrated in Fig. 7b, the bandV consists of twoV independent lengths of Y by a sewed seam 4I extending along their lower edges.v Whether made of an integraljpiece of material folded, or of two independent vpieces of material,Y the two thicknesses of the 'band' are united .preferably Yat regularlyV spaced intervals by transverse connecting ele-V ments. such, for example,as sewed seams 42.

7) which are secured togetherV at the desired points, accompanied by localized pressure and/ or heat.

In whatever way the band be made and of whatever material, the union of the two thicktrated in Fig. 3. This element may consist of any'suitable ilexible material thin enough to be slipped between the thicknesses 40 and 40a of the band. For this purpose thin but tough paper or Celluloid have both been found useful. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the element 44 comprises a subarea 45 and a light-transmitting area v46, the line 41 of demarcation between these areas defining the outline of a letter of the alphabet. While the areas 45 and 46 may be opaque and light-transmitting, respectively, it is to be understood that these terms are not used in an absolute sense but that the relative lighttransmitting and light-occluding characteristics of these areas may vary to any degree, and also that one of these areas means of a gang punch or the like) after the two thicknesses of the band have been united, as above described, so that the openings 43 in one thickness will substantially register with the openings 43a in the other thickness. While it is preferred, as just described, to limit the perforations substantially to the portions have been perforated.

While punched perforations are desirable, particularly when the perforations are made so as to register in the two thicknesses of the band, it is contemplated that the band may be formed with light-transmitting openings in other ways. Thus, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 7e, the band i may consist of two thicknesses of coarse woven textile fabric such that light will pass through the interstices between the woven yarns. In the same way it is contemplatedthat textile each provided with aV material such'as knitted material or lace material may be employed for the'same purpose, and if, as above suggested, the band be made of such material` as Celluloid (which may be inherently of light-transmitting character) it may not be necessary'to form any perforations whatsoever in the band. Likewise, it is contemplated that the several Vpockets may be made as individual elements and iexibly united, as by lacing, to form an endless band.

Having prepared a band as above described, to-

gether with a set of the display elements such as obvious that the display reason of the ileXing of the band, it may be desirable to provide the open tops of the pockets with temporary closure devices. Thus, for example, a strip of adhesive tape 50 the rollers l1 and i8 tensions the band throughbetween the walls I5 and |5b, the band is slowly drawn out from the delivery *end of the storage chamber between the brush 20 and the partition it is stronger than the ordinary band, but by reason of the conveyor 26 the tension on the band need not be substantially greater for moving it around the guide rolls than that to which the ordinary band is subjected, and thus the band is far more durable than the ordinary single thickness band. Furthermore, since the display elements are removably supported by the band it merely by punching out openings in a single thickness of. material. 'However, since the perforations 43 and 43a in the band are substantially pulled along by since the pun ofY having unique characteristics and which is far more desirable than those at present available.k

While `certain desirableembodiments of the invention have been illustrated by way Vof example, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to-these precise embodiments but is to be regarded as broadly inclusive of any and all equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: Y

1.A flexible band for use in display apparatus of the kind in which aV casing has a sight opening across which Va run of the band is moved, and a storage chamber in which an inactive portion .of the band is temporarily stored, said band comprising two thicknesses of material, each thickness having ay multitude of small light-transmitting openings therethrough,VV each opening in one thickness of the material substantially registering with the corresponding opening in the other thickness,rthe Vband being constructed and arranged to support display elements between the two thicknesses of the band material.

2. Aband for use in t'erial being so 'united' as to form a plurality of.

pockets extending as a series lengthwise of the band, each pocket having'front and rear walls devoid of large openings, each pocket being designed'to retain a thin, exible display element,

"the material ofthe band being such as to permit the perforations of the two walls n display apparatus of thev class described, said band comprising two thick-V Y nesses ofthe band transmission of light through both walls of each pocket.

4. An endless band rfor use in display apparatus of the class described, said band comprising a length ofV flexible material transversely doubled to provideV two thicknesses with a foldat theY lower edge of the band, and means uniting the two thicknesses transversely at spaced intervals, therebyto form a series of pockets for the reception of removable display elements, the walls cf each pocket each having a multitude of small uniformly distributed perforations therethrough, substantially registering with each other. 1

5. A band for use in display apparatus of the class described, said band comprising two thicknesses Vof substantially opaque textile material,

two thicknesses along their Y lower edges, sewed seams uniting the two thick- Y each for the'reception of a n rear walls of each pocketeach having a multitude" cf small light-transmitting vopenings therethrough, each opening of one wall substantially registering with the corresponding opening of the other wall.

6. In combination kind having a casingV opening and a source of illumination, an endless in display apparatus of the provided with a display Y band having a run disposed between the source f of illumination and the opening, and means for moving the band, the band being of iiexible material, said bandconsisting of two thicknesses'of substantiallyY opaque material but having longitudinally spaced distinct areas each having a multiplicity of small vlight-transmitting openings in both thicknesses of the material, and flexible display elements each disposed between thejthickand each of such a character as to modify light` passing through the apertures in the band. Y

JOSEPH TADDONIO. 

